SparkyCanuck
Member
- Messages
- 7
Hi all,
I've always wanted to learn to weld and just recently got started. For a bit of background: I'm a 34-year-old father of one toddler, a professional computer programmer, a drummer, and an electronics tinkerer. I'm taking a course at a local school. It's not a credit course; it's 10 2-hour sessions covering safety and the basics of arc, MIG, and O/A welding. I'm really enjoying it and time flies like crazy when I'm welding, so that's a good sign.
Of the three processes, I feel like I have the most control using the O/A. That's not to say I'm all that good at it yet (with maybe 2 hours under my belt I've just done simple fillets, both with and without filler) but I think I can see how with some time to get a feel for it one could do lots with a gas rig.
Oddly (I gather) after that, I feel most comfortable with the stick. That is probably just lack of experience though. I do have an easier time laying down a pretty bead with the MIG, but I feel kind of like I'm at the mercy of the machine. I have run some OK beads and one OK T joint (on which I only did one side and then hammered it apart to check it out inside).
I do have an old AC-only 180A buzzbox to play with at home, though, so maybe that has something to do with it.
I ground and cut up some old scrap to play with and after burning almost 2 lbs of rod and playing with the amp setting on the box, I discovered a few things. One of which is that if you use too large a rod with to high an amperage on thin stock, you have a rather messy cutting torch on your hands.
This is my first butt joint, using Air Liquide 3/32" 6013. I know the ends need work and the bead ain't pretty but it seemed to withstand bending OK. Any thoughts or hints for improvement are welcome.
I was glad to see an arc forum on the site, since I think that's what I'm likely to be using the most (since that's what I have for now). Thanks for providing the site and all the info--it's going to take a while just to sort though what's already here.
Anyway, enough words.
Cheers!
Torben
I've always wanted to learn to weld and just recently got started. For a bit of background: I'm a 34-year-old father of one toddler, a professional computer programmer, a drummer, and an electronics tinkerer. I'm taking a course at a local school. It's not a credit course; it's 10 2-hour sessions covering safety and the basics of arc, MIG, and O/A welding. I'm really enjoying it and time flies like crazy when I'm welding, so that's a good sign.
Of the three processes, I feel like I have the most control using the O/A. That's not to say I'm all that good at it yet (with maybe 2 hours under my belt I've just done simple fillets, both with and without filler) but I think I can see how with some time to get a feel for it one could do lots with a gas rig.
Oddly (I gather) after that, I feel most comfortable with the stick. That is probably just lack of experience though. I do have an easier time laying down a pretty bead with the MIG, but I feel kind of like I'm at the mercy of the machine. I have run some OK beads and one OK T joint (on which I only did one side and then hammered it apart to check it out inside).
I do have an old AC-only 180A buzzbox to play with at home, though, so maybe that has something to do with it.
I ground and cut up some old scrap to play with and after burning almost 2 lbs of rod and playing with the amp setting on the box, I discovered a few things. One of which is that if you use too large a rod with to high an amperage on thin stock, you have a rather messy cutting torch on your hands.
This is my first butt joint, using Air Liquide 3/32" 6013. I know the ends need work and the bead ain't pretty but it seemed to withstand bending OK. Any thoughts or hints for improvement are welcome.
I was glad to see an arc forum on the site, since I think that's what I'm likely to be using the most (since that's what I have for now). Thanks for providing the site and all the info--it's going to take a while just to sort though what's already here.
Anyway, enough words.
Cheers!
Torben